MORROW, UMATILLA COUNTIES — Amazon Web Services awarded $1.2 million in rooftop solar installations for local nonprofits and community facilities across Eastern Oregon.

GRID Alternatives in partnership with AWS announced Wednesday, Oct. 30, the renewable energy initiative project will benefit 10 local nonprofit organizations and community places spanning across Morrow and Umatilla counties.

According to the press release, the solar systems will collectively generate up to 250 kilowatts of clean electricity, offsetting energy costs for the recipients.

“We’re excited about it. If it lowers our electric bill, great. It’s a good example of alternative power use in Oregon.” Al Davis, executive director of Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center, said. “We’re really hoping that as this goes on and it shows a good example that we can help promote alternative sources of energy and try and keep the planet green for the next generation.”

Boardman Food Pantry manager Perla Martinez said having solar panels would be beneficial for her facility because they have a lot of freezers and refrigerators inside their pantry.

“We help people in our community by serving them boxes of food,” Martinez said. “Frozen, canned and fresh fruit. We serve them once a week to help over 150 families per week.”

One of the beneficiaries, the Irrigon Boardman Emergency Assistance Center, welcomed the investment as a boost to its community mission.

“We are so excited to be part of this solar project that will reduce our utility expenses and carbon footprint,” said Ina Abercrombie, food pantry coordinator at Irrigon Boardman Emergency Assistance Center. “As a nonprofit addressing food insecurity, every dollar saved on expenses is a dollar spent to help our community members keep food on the table.”

Installations are slated to commence in November, with GRID Alternatives handling the rooftop solar projects at no cost to the following 10 sites during a five-month period:

Umatilla County: Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center (Hermiston), Agape House (Hermiston), Martha’s House Transitional Housing (Hermiston), Stepping Stones Alliance Homeless Shelter (Hermiston), Umatilla Center Head Start School and Pine Tree Center Head Start (Umatilla).

Morrow County: Boardman Senior Center (Boardman), Boardman Food Pantry (Boardman), Irrigon Emergency Assistance Center and Pantry (Irrigon) and Willow Creek Terrace Assisted Living Facility (Heppner).

According to the press release, recipients of the installations will own the systems as long as they want and GRID Alternatives will manage long-term maintenance and performance monitoring plans.

AWS has maintained a presence in Eastern Oregon for more than a decade through its data center operations in Morrow and Umatilla counties.

Earlier this year, AWS announced its first utility-scale renewable energy investment, committing to purchase 200,000 megawatt hours of clean power each year from a Gilliam County wind farm.

AWS in the press release stated it has invested $22.9 billion statewide since 2010, generating economic growth and community benefits.